(On Lithuanian laigonas ‘brother of the bride’, Latvian līgava ‘bride’). Both old fashioned words have been subject of several different etymological readings. The present paper focusses on semasiology and the context of custom and ritual background. In Latvian and Lithuanian folklore the bride is compared with the Sun. Lithuanian tekėti means ‘course (sun), flow (river)’ and ‘marry (about a woman)’. Consequently, the marriage equals the solsticium. Latvian līgava ‘bride’, līgot ‘stagger, sway; course (sun); celebrate St. Johannis (summer solsticium)’, Lith. lingti ‘swing’ are reflexes of the zero grade of IE *leig- ‘to jump’ with generalized n-infix. For Lith. laigonas an initial meaning as ‘bridesman’ is suggested, the one who leads the bride.
